Clothes-washing apparatus



Dec, 30, 1924.

J. A. WILLIAMS CLOTHES WASHING APPARATUS 5.6/1.1 1. /V/v (wf Jay/m mma/775-' Filed July 11, 1923 Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

JOSEPH A. WILLIAMS, OF ANGIER, NO 'RTH CAROLINA.

CLOTHES-WASHING APPARATUS'.

Application led July 11,

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. "WILLIAMS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Augier, in the county of Harnett and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Washing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing clothes, and particularly to apparatus of the character or type which is commonly employed in country districts, where the apparatus is associated with a specially constructed furi nace or heating means.

Among the objects of the invention may be mentioned tha-t of providing means whereby the washing water may be heated in a minimum amount of time and the clothes subjected to a thorough circulation of water. y

A further object is to provide means by which the supply of water employed may be readily changed without interfering with the washing operation, a suitable amount of clean water being constantly maintained.

In the drawings Figure l is an end elevation of a washing apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Figure is a transverse section substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the cover plate detached.

Figure 6 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of one of the pins of the cover plate.

Referring to the drawings, in the several views of which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a furnace structure 1 formed of suitable brick or masonry, having a fire box which is closed at one end by a suitable door 2, and is provided at its opposite end with an'upwardly extending stack 3.

A receptacle 4 is suitably supported within the furnace structure. As shown, this receptacle is formed of metal, being substantially rectangular in shape, and provided at opposite sides with laterally projecting hangers 5, which are suitably engaged with 1923. Serial No. 650,831.

thewallsof the furnace and support the re ceptacle firmly in position ftherein.'

Thefbottom of the receptacle is formed with a plurality of relatively deep channels G, which extend throughout the length :of the receptacle and the vdepending sidewalls .of which are substantially vertical, thus forming a plurality of heating flues extending longitudinally of the lire box and communicating at the `rear end with the stack 3. The depth of thechannels 6 is such that a relatively large heatingk surface is provided, and the water in said channels and the lower portion of the receptacle l will be quickly heated and .caused to` circulate through the receptacle and clothes placed therein. 1

To assist in the circulation of the water through the clothes,it is preferred to arrange on the upper face of the bottom of the receptacle a series of parallel'strips or plates 7, which extend across the receptacle `from side to side and provide a plurality of openings communicating `with eachof the depending water channels 6. rllhe number of said plates or strips may be varied to suit circumstances, but preferably they are arranged relatively closel together so that the openings between them communicating with the channels are relatively` small, which `acts to assist the circulation of the water and cause it to move upwardly into the body of the receptacle withconsiderableforcejf The plates or strips 7 may be ypermanently secured to thebottom of the receptacle 4-by n any suitablefmeans', such asv rivets, welding,

etc.

A pipe 8 connects the lowerends of the water channels 6, adjacent the stack end of the furnace, said channels being preferably slightly inclined downward toward said pipe so that the receptacle and channels may be readily emptied when desired. A hand controlled valve 9 isprovided bymeans of which the water may be readily withdrawn from the receptacle when desired.

to periodically withdraw the water from the receptacle either while fresh water is being introducedor otherwise.

Fitted within the receptacle 4 is a suitable cover plate l2. rThis plate extends over substantially the entire area of the receptacle, resting on the clothes therein and under the action of the steam pressure generated when the apparatus is in use, said plate will be intermittingly raised slightly, 'permtting the escape of steam. It is preferably provided with a suitable weight 1B, which will return it to its lower position on the clothes in the receptacle after each escape of Isteam pressure therefrom. It is preferred to employ .a detachable weight for .returning the plateV to its lower .position instead of dependingon the weight .of the plate alone, as this ,affords means for var-ying :the weight .opposed tothe steam pressure generated when the apparatus is in use.

'On the lower surface, the cover plate is provided with a series of depending pins 14, which extend downward' into the body of the receptacle and contact with the clothes therein during the washing operation. rlhe alternate rising and falling movement of the cover plate therefore causes 4said pins to exert a pounding-like action on the clothes during the washing operation. This action is further assisted .by forming each ofthe pins 14; with a cav-ity or recess at its free lower end, .thus in effect provid inga series `of vacuum cups on the cover plate by which the washing operation is greatly facilitated. The pins la .are so spaced and related that .they are out of alignment with the .open'ngs .between the .strips 7 that communicate with the dependingzclianuels 6.

It is believed that the operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood'from Athe foregoing .description and the drawings. It will .be seen that the-draft of the furnace canbe readily regulated by adjustment .of .the fire 'box door 2, and owingv to the shape of the receptacle and particularly of the depending channels at .therbottom thereof, a maximum amount through fthe medium Vof .the pins 1li.

of heating surface is provided so that the water in the receptacle will be quickly heated to the desired temperature.

lNhen the apparatus is in use the cover plate l2 will .be caused to alternately rise above the clothes on which it rests, by steam acting on its lower face. As soon as the body of the plate passes above the level of .the upper edges of the receptacle the steam beneath it will escape and, by gravity, the weighted cover plate will fall .back upon the clothes lthus producing a pounding .effect It will vbe Anoted that .the pins are so related to the apertures in the bottom through which the water enters the receptacle proper, that there is no .danger of such .openings being closed by the pins forcing any of the clothes in Ithe receptacle ithereinto. rThat is, the p ns .are arranged out of alignment with `such water supply openings.

ceptacle .to move vertically therein and provided with a series of pins that extend downward into the body 4of rthe receptacle into contact with clothes placed therein, each pin having a cavity formed at its inner end, for the purpose described.

, 1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JGSEPH A. VILLIAMS. 

